Alsace launches interfaith council to strengthen dialogue among religious communities
The Collectivité européenne d’Alsace (CEA) has announced the creation of a new Council of Religions of Alsace, bringing together representatives from eight faiths in an effort to reinforce interfaith dialogue and promote social cohesion in one of France’s most distinctive religious and legal landscapes.
The initiative was unveiled on Monday by Frédéric Bierry, president of the CEA, who said the council aims to encourage greater understanding between religious communities while engaging more closely with residents, particularly younger generations.
According to Bierry, the new body is intended to rebuild and strengthen interfaith dialogue at a time when international tensions have heightened the importance of mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.
The council reflects Alsace’s unique institutional framework. Unlike most of France, the regions of Alsace and Moselle continue to operate under the Concordat system, meaning the 1905 law separating church and state does not apply there. This legal arrangement maintains a distinct relationship between public authorities and recognized religious institutions.
The newly established council includes representatives from the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Orthodox, Buddhist, and Bahá’í faiths. It also brings together leaders from university faculties specializing in theology and the law of religions, broadening the forum beyond faith communities alone.
Officials say the body will serve as a platform for consultation, dialogue, and educational initiatives aimed at fostering greater awareness of religious diversity and strengthening community relations across the region.
The launch comes as public authorities in France continue to explore ways of encouraging dialogue and social cohesion amid a complex international environment and evolving domestic debates on religion, identity, and secularism.
By creating a permanent forum for religious exchange, the CEA hopes to build on Alsace’s long tradition of interfaith cooperation while providing a structured mechanism for addressing shared social challenges through dialogue.
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